The results are in for the latest Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey and features the feedback from 400 local residents across a range of age groups and locations.

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Central Goldfields Shire mayor Chris Meddows-Taylor said although the survey period covered a period before the council was elected, the information provided was useful and enabled council to establish baseline data to monitor its impact over the coming years.

"As the assessment period commenced in early February after the holiday season and with so little time in office, as we expected, the results are very similar to those of the previous year with the results for overall performance unchanged from last year," he said.

There was no real change in community satisfaction with the overall performance remaining at an index score of 53.

Council's overall performance rated significantly lower than the small rural group and the state-wide averages for councils.

Among people aged 18 to 34, perceptions of overall performance were significantly higher than the council average.

There was also a small lift in Lobbying, Community Decisions and Consultation and Engagement, however was still one of the lowest rating areas.

"These are things that are at the heart of an elected council's role so possibly an indication of increased confidence in having a newly elected president, although reflecting the limited time the council had to have impact," Cr Meddows-Taylor said.

"Importantly council direction rose and is now in line with other similar size councils and all councils statewide and that is pleasing to see."

Waste management is the area where council performed best in 2021 and improved the most on 2020, with an index score of 69, up six points.

Council performed in line with the small rural group and state-wide council averages in this service area.

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The lowest scoring areas included sealed local roads with an index score of 50, down one point on 2020.

Another area where council performed lower was in community decisions, however there was an improvement by two points on 2020.

Council's customer service was significantly lower than in 2020, with an index score of 62, down 11 points.

Cr Meddows-Taylor said customer service had been a traditional high result area for council over many years but unfortunately within the 2020 COVID year this declined considerably.

He said council was disappointed in this but recognised how challenging 2020 had been due to COVID restrictions that required the council to close most services.

"We know our community like to come into the council office to pay their rates and meet with staff," he said.

"Not being able to do so during COVID lockdowns has clearly had an impact."

The full details of the survey can be found here.

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